The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Series: The Giver #1
Genres: Science Fiction
Pages: 179 
My rating: Save It

This is a great book. I wish everyone would read this book. There is are so many people that are missing out on a great piece of work. Its deceptively simplistic language reveals a rather horrifying dystopian world. Lois Lowry sure is craft with her words and action throughout this book.

This is a world where people are not given freedom to decide anything for themselves - their spouses, children, careers, future, even clothes or haircuts are all pre-planned and pre-selected for them. This futuristic world to me would suck. I sure hope that this is not what the future generations have to look forward to. They are not allowed to even own their feelings and dreams. I cannot imagine having everything in my life set out before me and having no choices..:( Of course, it is done for common good - to preserve peace and serenity, to avoid any disturbance, be that war, hunger, over-population, or simply personal discomfort of pain. Only two people in this community are able to understand what people miss out on. The main character Jonas is one of these people.

“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."

 

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
My rating: Back It Up

I read this book on a whim. It was late before bed and looking for a book to read. I sure did not expect what I received from this 153 page turner.
In the future society of the United States. Is that what we are to expect after what we currently experiencing in our country?
In this story:

Families are only allowed two kids. It's illegal to have anymore than than 3. Luke(the protagonist) is the third child to a strapped farming couple living on the edge of civilization. The family is struggling to make ends meet. For most of his life, Luke's had the run of the back forty, but when a new housing development bring wealthy homes to their neck of the woods, Luke is forced to stay in the attic. He may never go outside again.

Luke watches the new neighborhood from his secret attic lookout. One day he notices a blind flutter on one of the extravagant homes. Without his parents' knowledge, Luke sneaks over to the new neighborhood and meets another shadow child--a girl! She's linked into an underground network of Shadow Children. It is an interesting book.

The authors has the reader wanting more. The reader will be sad, irritated and just pissed off at times throughout this book. I ordered the next 2 books in the series, in which has 7 books in all.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA Dystopian
Year:2008
Pages: 374
Acquired: Borrowed from a friend
Rating: 5/5


Overview of the Book: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

 Review: I know that I am a little late for the party, but it is better late than never...RIGHT. :) I was in the breakroom at work and saw a Magazine Entertainment Weekly(or something to that effect),the cover story was for the movie for Hunger Games was coming out in 2012. I wonder what the heck is the Hunger Games. I asked one my friends and work if she had the book, because her and I have similar book tastes. She in fact did and now the second book in the series is waiting in the wing.

This book is interesting to say the very least. The Capitol pitting 24 kids again one another til all that is remaining is 1, the victor. During the Hunger Games, people from the outside are watching every more and "The Arena" is controlled by the Gamekeepers, if the action is going to slow the Keepers make it so that thier is more action for the viewing audience.

I was barely able to put this book down I completely hooked. Suzanne Collins narrative here has an immediacy to it that, when combined with the very dramatic life-or-death plot, is incredibly compelling. It was entertaining, and incredibly disturbing all at once never thought that could be possible. If this was merely a good read, I would have given it 4 stars, but they say great art leaves you changed after you experience it.

I thought that it was funny at the end how Peeta(other tribute in Katniss's district) and Katniss stick it to the Capitol with a sudden rule change(if 2 tributes of the same district are remaining then there would be co-victors) and then the Capitol trying to double back. 

I have never read a book quite like this one, but I will be exploring more reads such as this one. Well after I read The Hunger Games Series of course. If you have not read this book yet, I HIGHLY recommend this one.